Rope adjuster



Jan. 28, 1941. u PO RS 2,229,935

ROPE ADJUSTER Filed Jan. 31, 1940 Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFiE ROPE. ADJUSTER to Frank M. Powers Application January 31, 1940, Serial No. 316,655

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in rope adjusters and more especially such a device commonly used in connection with adjusting the guy rope of a tent and commonly referred to as a slide or tent key.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of such a device that has an increased efficiency over the conventional type. My improved device also can be easily and cheaply made; and is simple to operate.

In those forms of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form,

' Fig. 3 is a similar view showing another modification, and Fig. is a view showing the device in use.

As shown in the drawing the improved rope adjuster may be made of sheet metal, wood, plastic, or any other suitable material. The device of Fig. 3 is made of wire and is the form preferred by me at present. This form is very cheap to manufacture.

The device comprises primarily a rigid elongated member with means for attaching a rope to one end thereof. The other end has means to engage and kink the rope to prevent it from sliding. To this extent the device resembles the conventional rope adjuster. The particular feature of my invention is the provision of a second rope-engaging and kinking means intermediate the ends of the device. As here shown in the preferred forms this is an open loop into which the rope may readily be inserted. It will be seen from the drawing that one or both of the ropeengaging and kinking means may be open loops. It is just as obvious that they may both be closed in which case the rope would have to be threaded through and remain there. At present I prefer to make the end loop closed to form an eye and the other one open as shown in the device of Fig.

3 which is made of wire.

In ordinary operation where the extra loop is open the adjuster is operated the same as the conventional one and then the rope is kinked and snapped through the extra loop to give additional security. In other words, the adjuster is manipulated in the same manner as the conventional type until the rope is the desired length. The rope is then given a slight kink and snapped into the extra loop.

It will not be necessary to describe each of the devices separately since the construction and operation of all is similar. The elongated member itself is indicated by I 0 and the modifications are similarly indicated by H0 and 2H). II, III and 2H indicate the means for attaching a rope to one end, here shown as a closed eye through which the end of the rope 50 can be inserted and knotted in the usual manner as indicated by 50 The conventional means at the other end of the device for engaging and kinking the rope is indicated by 12, H2 and H2. I2 is a closed eye, H2 an open loop and M2 a closed eye. The additional means intermediate the ends of the device for engaging and kinking the rope is indicated by It, H3 and 2l3. In each case this is shown as an open loop although it is obvious that this loop also could be closed to form an eye. With such a device however the rope would have to remain permanently threaded through the eye and manipulation of the device would not be quite so simple.

It will be seen that the device of Fig. 3 which is made of wire can be very cheaply manufactured. The wire is bent so that the two eyes and open loop are substantially in alignment.

In all cases where the loops are open, the opening is preferably somewhat smaller than the diameter of the loop so that the rope will be more securely engaged and held.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

.What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the character described, comprising one integral piece of wire with a closed eye at each end and an open loop substantially midway between the ends, said eyes and, open loop lying substantially in alignment and substantially in the same plane, the portions of the wire joining the open loop with the eyes being substantially straight.

DAVID W. POWERS. 

